COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS

YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY

A Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Your Property

CITY OF CHICAGO Richard M. Daley, Mayor Department of Planning and Development Alicia Mazur Berg, Commissioner YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY

You own a lovely home that you're proud to call your own. But someone owned it before you. Someone built it, cared for it, and made changes through the years to it. And now you're interested in finding out the "who, when and what" of your property.

Researching your house can be fun, fascinating and completely engrossing. This pamphlet will help you begin, offering advice on how to identify basic information about your house and your neighborhood. It is designed to take you systematically through the process.

Using the sources discussed here, you can identify: the date your house was built, if an architect is associated with its design, who had it built, and the changes that have been made to it over the years. Be sure to read the appendix as well, where detailed information on resources can be found.

However, beware! Research can become addictive. It can also be frustrating. You may exhaust every source possible and still not find the answers to your questions. But no matter how many questions remain unanswered, you will have unearthed some interesting information, learned a little more about your community, and become familiar with some important public institutions in the city.

So, have fun, and good luck.

TIP:

Getting Started To best organize your time while conducting this research, read through this pamphlet and identify all the resources you want to consult while at a particular library or historical society.

We suggest that you first locate a copy of your building permit (see page 4). Once you have located this, more information - on a wider variety of topics - can be found at the Chicago Historical Society. But there are many other research resources available to you.

Abbreviations used in this pamphlet refer to: CHS The Chicago Historical Society CPL Chicago Public Library UIC University of Illinois at Chicago AIC Art Institute of Chicago CCL Commission on Chicago Landmarks

2 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Some common styles in What you need to know to begin Chicago and their most distinctive features Before you launch your research, it would be good to have a general idea Front Gable or Worker's Cottage of your house's style and the approximate date of its construction. (beginning 1870s) - narrow house, steep roof, off-center front door If your house is newly purchased, the real estate listing undoubtedly had Romanesque Revival (1880-1900)- large arched openings, masonry a date typed into the appropriate box. While you shouldn't assume that this walls, towers with conical roofs, date is correct, it may help get you started. asymmetrical façade Italianate (1860-1900) - widely The architectural style of your house can also provide you with clues to its overhanging eaves, decorative approximate age so you know where to begin your research. There are many brackets, tall, narrow arched windows books available to help you formulate an intelligent guess as to style and date. Some good stylebooks are: Queen Anne (1880s-1990) - steep roof usually with a prominent gable, porches, variety of building A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia and Lee McAlester (1984) materials American Architecture Since 1780: A Guide to the Styles, Marcus Whiffen Prairie (early 1900s)- low pitched hipped roof, wide overhanging (1974) eaves, horizontal detailing The American House, Mary Mix Foley (1980) Bungalow (early 1900s)-low pitched roof, wide eaves, brick A Field Guide to American Architecture, Carole Rifkind (1993) walls, and bay window with art glass Identifying American Architecture, John J.G. Blumenson (1977) American Four-Square (1900- What Style is It? A Guide to American Architecture, John C. Poppliers, 1930)- cube shape, hipped roof, broad front porch, little ornament S. Allen Chambers, Jr., and Nancy B. Schwartz (1983) Colonial Revival (1880-1955)- cube shape, gabled roof, symmetrical, prominent front door

Worker’s Cottage Queen Anne American Four-Square

TIP:

Dating Architectural Styles Most new styles in architecture were first seen on the East Coast. In A Field Guide to American Houses, for instance, the Italianate Style is dated as early as 1850, although it didn't become popular in Chicago until the 1870's.

3 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS Commission on Step One Chicago Landmarks Checking the Chicago Historic Resources Survey 33 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1600 (312) 744-3200 The very first place to look for information on your house is in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey. A copy of this book is in every branch of the Chicago Each Tuesday has been set aside Public Library and can also be viewed at the Commission on Chicago Landmarks as the Commission's open research day. The commission's office. An electronic version of the survey is available on the City of Chicago's reports on historic buildings and website at: http://www.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks/CHRS.html. If the survey neighborhoods are also available lists the date and architect for your building, you're in luck. That means a permit here for a small fee. was found by Commission researchers and additional information may be on file in the Commission Offices. TIP: Before Moving On To Step Two If your house is not listed in the survey, you'll need to locate the building permit yourself (Step Two). While this can be quite simple, it can also be challenging. Persevere however, as the information gained will be well worth the effort.

Chicago Historic Step Two Resources Survey Finding a copy of the building permit filed when your house was constructed In 1996, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, published Looking up the permit granted when your house was built will provide you the Chicago Historic Resources with the date of application (usually within a few weeks of the beginning of Survey, a listing of over 17,000 construction) and may offer information on the names of the owner, builder, and city structures that are of architect, the building dimension, type of construction and legal description of the national, state or local property. Cost of construction may also be included, but may have been understated architectural or historical to keep the cost of the permit down. significance. Street addresses, architects (if known), date(s) of Copies of historic building permits are available in the Documents and construction, building styles and Maps Department at Daley Library at the University of Illinois of Chicago (UIC) types, Permanent Real Estate or in the city's Freedom of Information Office, Department of Buildings in City Index Numbers (or "PIN," the Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. (see next page). identification numbers that Cook County and the City of For ease of access, we suggest that you first try the UIC library. However, if Chicago use to keep track of land your house was built after June 1954, they will not have a copy of your permit and parcels) and Form Numbers you must go to the Freedom of Information Office. (tracking for research information in the Commission If you are requesting a copy of a permit through the Department of Buildings offices) are all included and you must complete a City of Chicago Department of Buildings Customer Service indexed for easy identification. Request Form. This form is available in the Freedom of Information Office, or The Historic Resources Survey it can be downloaded as a PDF file from: may be viewed in any of the http://www.cityofchicago.org/buildings/Forms/index.html. The Freedom of Chicago Public Library branches, Information Office is a division of the Department of Buildings and retrieves local historical societies or in building permit records for the general public. Once you have filled out the the Commission offices. form, your request will be processed by the department staff within seven working days after its receipt. If you are doing your research at UIC, looking up your permit is a two- stage process: First Look up your address (alphabetically by street name and then number) in the Address Index Card File. This will tell you in which ledger book

4 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY your address can be found. The book number follows a bold-faced N or University of Illinois at W or S, depending on the section of the city; the number is also right Chicago Library before PAGE. The book number approximately correlates to the year of 801 S. Morgan St. the permit. If a second address is noted on the index card, copy that one Documents & Maps Dept. as well. This is the address used prior to street renumbering in 1909. and Special Collections Second both on 3rd floor Look up the building permit for your house in the appropriate ledger (312) 996-2738, Documents book as indicated on the address index card. and Maps NOTE: Most of the time you'll be dealing with microfilm for one or both of (312) 996-2742, Special these steps. Collections The library is in the middle of the campus. The closest CTA stop is "Halsted" on the Blue Line. address of property Library hours are: Mon-Thurs., type of building 7:30AM-10 PM; Fri., 7:30AM-7PM; permit number and Sat., 10AM-5PM; Sun., 1-9PM page in ledger book Note: Special Collections has more restricted hours and library hours file number and date change with the academic year, of application call or consult the UIC website to (construction usually began within a few weeks confirm hours. of the date shown) The Documents Department is on the third floor, to the south of the elevators and stairwell. All Address Index Cards and building permit ledger books are The Address Index Card (above) refers to on microfilm in the Documents a building permit that can be found on and Maps Department. Both are page 439 of Ledger Book "N 22" (below). located in the file cabinets to your left beyond the librarian's desk permit number as you enter the room. All of the file drawers are carefully marked as well as the microfilm boxes. Don't hesitate to ask questions of name of owner address of property the librarians, particularly when name of architect it comes to setting up the and contractor microfilm machine. building dimension summaries of building Freedom of Information inspections during construction Office, Department of Buildings City Hall, Room 1109 121 N. LaSalle St. (312) 744-3419 cost of construction (often understand to keep down the price of the permit)

5 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS The Vagaries of Permit Research Here are some tips about building permits that might be helpful if you're having trouble locating yours or if it doesn't have all the information you need;

Two different ledger book systems were used from 1872 to 1955 Permits from 1872 to 1911 are listed chronologically in ledger books by sections of the city (north, south, northwest, etc.). The system is somewhat ambiguous, and is sometimes difficult to use when you're not sure how to classify the section of the city for the property that you are looking up. Keep looking, however, because in the vast majority of cases the permit can be found.

From 1912 to 1955 the ledger books were more comprehensive. In addition to the information found in the older- style ledger books, they listed the architect and summaries of the building inspector's notes during construction (e.g. completion of excavation, foundations, framing, roof, etc.). This system is easier to use than the older one because the legers are indexed by book and page numbers (see page 4).

The Address Index is missing some addresses between 1872 and 1911 Some addresses may not have been indexed, or cards are missing altogether. This is especially true of permits between 1872 and 1875. If you cannot find your address index card, try the following:

1) If your location is a corner property, look up the address for both streets. Sometimes a property will be listed simply by its intersection (e.g., Dearborn and Randolph). These listings appear at the beginning of each street file.

2) Look through the ledger books based on other information. For example, you might look up a permit in the six month period after a property was sole (see step 4, pages 11-13), on the assumption an owner would undertake new construction soon after a property sale.

Also, keep in mind that permit records are most likely not available fore those areas that were not part of Chicago at the time of a building's construction (see map on page 7). In this case, try neighborhood historical societies where pre- annexation documents are sometimes kept.

Some street addresses changed in 1909 In 1909, the City of Chicago changed its street address system for the north and west sides. While the 1909 changes are noted on the Address Index Cards, you may need to find your house's original address to complete your research. The Lakeside Directory for 1909 published a conversion list of old and new number (see Directories, page 13).

Records are not always accurate While the streets and addresses may be in order, they may not be arranged by direction, so pay close attention to whether the N., S., E., and W. portion of the address is noted and correct.

Look at adjacent street numbers, your house may have been included in a large lot development (especially if it's on a corner).

A slightly different number from your present address may have been recorded.

Some permits included a range of numbers if they were part of a single development area.

On occasion entries are out of order.

If you can not find your street address in the index, ask for the books or microfilms from your house's approximate building data and look through all the permits. TIP:

If You Cannot Find Your Permit... read through the rest of this guidebook for information on other resources which can be used as clues to piece together the date, builder, architect and first owner of your home. Or, you can hire a research consultant to do the work for you. Contact the Chicago Historical Society or Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois for more information on the availability of consultants.

6 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Annexation Map of Chicago

1900 Devon 1900 1960 1930

1890 Lawrence

Fullerton

North

1870 1837 1900

Cermak

Pershing

1930 1890

87th

1900

103rd 1930

Chicago building records only exist for structures built after the Great Fire of 1871. Building records also don't exist for houses built prior to their neighborhood's annexation by the City of Chicago. The above map shows the annexation dates for various neighborhoods. In rare cases, these building records may be found at local historical societies.

7 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS Chicago Historical Society TIP: Research Center Clark St. and North Ave. Steps Three, Four, Five and Six and the Chicago Historical Society (312) 642-5035 x356 Steps Three, Four, Five and Six are best carried out at the Chicago Its hours are: Historical Society where you can begin to research your house's Tues-Sat., 10 AM-4 PM construction history (what was added to it and when); discover When you enter the CHS, ask for information on its architect, builder, and first owner; learn about a pass to use the Research Center. your neighborhood's development; and, if you are lucky, obtain Take it with you to the 3rd floor copies of photos of your house or street. (elevators are to your left beyond the stairs). The center combines a number of collections: books, prints and Step Three photographs, archives and Research information on the construction of your house (and any additions), manuscripts and the architecture its architect (if known), and its builder. collection. Most collection items are available during regular With a copy of your house's building permit in hand, you may already have hours but some material may this information - or you may have only a starting point for further research. require a special appointment. Below is a listing of a variety of resources available at the Chicago Historical If you have questions, feel free to Society that you can use to continue your research. call the center before visiting it. The research specialists in the Construction on your house center will ask you to fill out a Fire Insurance Maps (Atlases) form and will explain how to use Fire insurance maps offer a wealth of information. They indicate lot sizes, the the collection. The specialists are outlines of buildings, their heights and materials, any changes made to lot or buildings, also familiar with Chicago and when those changes were made (approximately). By comparing maps of the same materials in other institutions neighborhood in different years, you can plat the changing character of that neighborhood. and can refer you to them. The research center's stacks are Several companies (Sanborn, Rascher, Robinson, etc.) published fires insurance "closed" which means that you maps. These maps were periodically updated until 1949. The dates of these revisions must identify the item you want, are listed in the front of each book. fill out a "call slip" for it and wait for the staff to bring it out to you. Different holdings for these maps can also be found in the UIC library, the CHS, There are also many basic and the Chicago Public Library (CPL) (Note: permit records for your house may not be reference books on open stack sin available in the City of Chicago permit records if your house was in an area that was not the reading room. annexed to the city at the time it was built.). The UIC library and the CHS have holdings If you have any questions, just available online depending on the year of the map; these are black and white, so the ask. The Chicago Historical colors used to indicate building materials that appear on original fire insurance maps Society encourages visitors to can’t be distinguished. Similarly, the CPL and UIC fire insurance maps that are available make the most of the research on microfilm are on black and white. The advantage to the microfilm is that it can be center's collections. copied, while the originals at the CPL and CHS are large and cumbersome, so special arrangements for copying must be made. Additionally, the UIC Special Collections Department has color scans of their original fire insurance maps, consult the Special Collections librarian for the availability of these images. Chicago Public Library The greatest amount of Fire Insurance Map Holdings information related to building research is at the downtown Originals Online Microfilm Harold Washington Library Center. See appendix, pages 16- CHS 17, for information on holdings, branches and accessibility. CPL UIC

8 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Fire Insurance Maps of 1886 and 1895

9 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS The Ryerson and Burnham Library The Art Institute of Chicago Michigan Ave. at Adams St. (312) 443-3666

Hours: Tues., 10:30 AM-7:45 PM; Wed.-Fri., 10:30 AM-4:30 PM; Sat. 10 AM-4:45 PM. (These hours change in the summer)

The Ryerson and Burnham Library at the AIC is located on the south side of the ground floor, just opposite the stairway down. Detail of a construction report from The Economist, 1901 This is a wonderful source of information on the architecture Construction reports of Chicago and its designers and Various newspapers and building trades magazines regularly reported builders. In order to use the construction news based on reports received from architects' offices and building library, however, you must either permit applications. Look in these publications for the weeks immediately be a member of the Art Institute before or following your permit date (or use a wider search if you still don't or obtain an "Info Pass" referral from your local library. While know the exact date). this is not as easy as simply Construction reports can be found in real estate columns in the Saturday walking in, it is not at all difficult, or Sunday editions of newspapers and periodicals or in "contracts for bid" and the resources here are sections of: fascinating. Look up the name of your architect/builder in the Inter Ocean (for the years 1872-1914) Burnham Index. The procedure The Chicago Tribune (1880-1939) is then much the same as at the Chicago Historical Library in More limited information may be found at the CHS, CPL, UIC, or Ryerson terms of filling out call slips (see and Burnham Library in: page 8). American Contractor (1897-1916; CHS) Landowner (1869-77; CHS) American Architect & Building News (1876-1938; AIC, UIC and CPL) The Brickbuilder (1892-1916; CHS and CPL) The Economist (1888-1946; AIC and CHS) Real Estate and Building Journal (1872-1897; 1905-1909; CHS) Inland Architect (for the years 1883-1898; AIC, CHS and CPL) Information on architects If your permit indicates an architect, you can look his/her name up in the card catalogue in the CHS or in the Ryerson and Burnham Library. The Chicago Historic Resources Survey (page 4) has an index of architects and their extant buildings identified in the survey. Other resources which can be found at either library are: American Architects by Lawerence Wodenhouse (1976) Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) by Henry and Elsie Withey (1956/1970) Chicago Architects Design (1982) History of Chicago (Vol. 3) by A.T. Andreas (1884-86) Industrial Chicago: The Building Interests (vol. 1) (1891-96) MacMillan Encyclopedia of Architects, ed. Adolf K. Placzek (1982)

10 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Step Four Department of Finding information on the previous owners of your house Transportation, In most cases, your permit will have given you the names of the original Bureau of Inspection, owners of your house. If your permit didn't note an original owner, or if Division of Maps and Plats you're interested in finding out about others that lived in your house, you City of Chicago can find this information in City and County records. City Hall 121 N. LaSalle St. In order to discover who lived in your house before you, you must have Room 905 the legal description of your property. This should be on the permit or on (312) 744-4996 your deed. Using your PIN, this information can be obtained from Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, see the staff for assistance. If you would Hours: Mon.-Fri., like to see a map of your property with a legal description, go to the city’s 8:30 AM-4:00 PM Department of Transportation, Bureau of Inspection, Division of Maps and Plats and consult the attendant.

Legal Description of Property Map

11 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS Your next step is to go to the first floor of the same building, to the Office Cook County of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Once inside, search for the stairway Recorder of Deeds down and descend to the basement. County Building 120 N. Clark St. In this large room is a series of low cabinets filled with identically bound 1st Floor books. Index books can be found on the tops of the cabinets. Use the index (312) 603-5050 to identify which of the bound tract books to look in to find information on transactions relating to your property. The index is arranged by the township Hours: Mon.-Fri., and range number (the "38-14" numbers from the example above). After finding 8 AM-5 PM the section number (e.g. "15") look for the subdivision name. This will refer you to the number for the appropriate tract book.

Newberry Library There is an index page in the front of each tract book that will direct 60 W. Walton St. you to the correct subdivision. Then look for the appropriate block and lot (312) 255-3510 you're interested in. In a variety of handwriting from recorders of deeds through the decades, you'll find the names of sellers and buyers, types of Hours: transactions, and other miscellaneous information. Some of the transaction Reading Rooms, Reference and abbreviations used are not self-explanatory. Ask at the front desk if you Bibliographical Center are open need help deciphering them. Tues.-Thurs., 10 AM-6 PM; Fri. and Sat., 9 AM-5 PM Be aware that the information found on these pages make up the clues that you need to track down the stories of the people who lived in your house, The Newberry is a private so don't overlook anything that you may want to follow up on later. research library founded in If there is some transaction on your tract's page that piques your interest 1887. While the Newberry is not and you want to look at the complete transaction document, copy down the like a public library, the time it takes to get a readers card is tract page numbers in the left margin and take them into the room next door painless and well worth it. Be where you fill out a form to receive the appropriate microfilm. On the microfilm sure to bring a photo ID and you will find more details of the legal transaction which may give you clues for proof of current address with further follow up. you on your first visit. Ask the Learning More About The Owners of Your House receptionist at the desk immediately at the front door Once again, the Chicago Historical Society is the best place for you to start for a registration form. Fill it this research once you know who the previous owners were. If you are following out, show your ID and you'll be in the footsteps of a prominent Chicagoan, try looking up his/her name in: instructed to go to the reference the CHS card catalogue and Bibliographical Center on Book of Chicagoans and its successor, the third floor. The reference desk is at the door. Ask the Who's Who in Chicago, published in nine editions from 1905-1950 registrar who sits there to help by the A.N. Marquis Company you complete your Newberry History of Chicago (1884-86), by A.T. Andreas registration and start your History of Cook County, Illinois (1884), A.T. Andreas research. If the first owner of your house wasn't a Who's Who sort, you can still discover some information about them in city directories, telephone books, and census National Archives reports as well as in Chicago and cook County Sources: a Genealogical and Great Lakes Region Historical Guide (1986) by Loretto Dennis Szuc (CHS). All of these can be found (Chicago) at the CHS except the census reports. For these, go to the Newberry Library. (773) 5810-7816 x138

12 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Directories Types of Directories Various types of directories are useful for providing information about Alphabetical Directories houses and their occupants. They were published by various companies, but There are two kinds of there are two basic types: alphabetical (by name) and reverse (by address). alphabetical directories: "city See description at right. directories" (published 1839-1917, 1923, 1928-29) and telephone Census Records directories (published from 1883 Census Records are a fascinating way to learn more about the people who to present). City directories list lived in your house. For instance, you can discover the names of everyone in occupations. the house and their relationships to each other. Census reports came out every 10 years beginning in 1840. Due to privacy concerns, the Census Bureau delays Reverse Directories issuing complete records for 70 years. Consequently, the 1920 census is the last These books are arranged by one to have been issued. Also, the entire 1890 census was destroyed in a fire. address, not names of the occupants. If you are having The most complete set of census records can be found in the Newberry trouble finding a date of Library and the National Archives. construction for you house, you can look up the address in a reverse directory to see when it first appears. However, there is no complete set of them covering a long period of time. The CHS has three major titles:

Polk's Directory (1928) Chicago Cross Reference Associations Directory (1950,1952-53) Haines Directory (1978 to present)

Social Directories These useful resources are available at the CHS. Entries are listed both alphabetically and by location. The directories, however, only covered the socially prominent areas of the city. The two titles at CHS are on the reference shelves in the research center.

Census Record for 1870 Elite Directory (1884/85-1891/92) Chicago Blue Book (1890-1916) TIP:

Directories for older outlying neighborhoods Directories for older outlying neighborhoods that were originally suburbs are more difficult to find for the years before annexation (see map on page 7). If the owner of your house lived in a suburb and worked in the city, he/she may be listed in one of the city directories, but there would be little more than their name. There are four places to check if you live in an annexed suburb: Your local historical society (see appendix) The CHS (look under your neighborhood name and then "directories; in the card catalogue) The CPL's Special Collections Divisions, Neighborhood History Research Collection census records.

13 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS Step Five Finding early or original plans, drawings and photos of your house Finding copies of the original plans, old drawings or views of your house is not easy to do and you will be very lucky to uncover anything at all. But you can also be pleasantly surprised.

The best place to start is with former owners. They would be more likely to have photos of your house 10, 20, 30 years ago than any of the city's institutions. There are however, a few public collections where you can look for photos and plans.

If your house was built after 1955, the plan is on microfilm along with the permit at the Department of Buildings.

The AIC and the CHS both have a small collection of plans for older structures, which are usually indexed by architect (since these are found in departments other than the library, please ask for information)

Older photographs of individual houses are generally not available, but streetscape views of some blocks can be found. Visit the Prints and Photographs Collection of the CHS to find these.

Step Six Your Neighborhood's History Tracing your neighborhood's history may be the easiest and most rewarding of your searches. Many neighborhoods have formal or informal historical societies. Look in the appendix for the names and addresses of some. At the CHS, look up the name of your community area in the card catalogue.

You can also look in the Neighborhood History Research Collections of the Special Collections Division of the Chicago Public Library.

14 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Most libraries will carry one or more of the following general Chicago histories;

Chicago and its Makers by Paul Gilbert and Charles Lee Bryson (1929) Chicago: Growth of a Metropolis by Harold M. Mayer and Richard C. Wade (1969) A History of Chicago by Bessie Louise Pierce (3 volumes; 1937, 1940, 1957; reprinted 1975) History of Chicago by A.T. Andreas (3 volumes; 1884-86) Chicago, 1910-29: Building, Planning and Urban Technology by Carl Condit (1973) Chicago, 1930-70: Building, Planning and Urban Technology by Carl Condit (1974) The Chicago School of Architecture: A History of Commercial and Public Building in the Chicago Area, 1875-1925 by Carl Condit (1964) History of the Development of Building Construction in Chicago by Frank D. Randall (1949)

Other books with more specific information on neighborhoods may be found in most libraries, although not all can be found in any one place. Some of these are:

Bird's Eye Views and Guide to Chicago by Rand, McNally & Co. (1898; CHS only) Chicago: A Historical Guide to the Neighborhoods, the Loop, and South Side by glen E. Holt and Dominic Pacyga (1979) Chicago and Its Suburbs by Everett Chamberlin (1883) Chicago, City of Neighborhoods by Dominic Pacyga and Ellen Skerrett (1986) Forty-four Cities in the City for Chicago by the Chicago Plan Commission (1942) History of Cook County, Illinois by A.T. Andreas (1884) Historic City: The Settlement of Chicago by the Chicago Department of Planning (1976) Ethnic Chicago edited by Melvin G. Holli and Peter d'A. Jones (revised 1995)

Two other useful reference with brief histories of Chicago neighborhoods are:

Local Community Fact Book Chicago Metropolitan Area, 1990 (Chicago Fact Book Consortium, 1995) Chicago Politics Ward by David K. Fremon (1988)

For old photographs of your neighborhood, consult your local historical society, the CPL, or the CHS (see above re: house plans and views)

A good mystery...

Historical research is often compared to reading a good mystery. By now you should know who did it, where, with what, and maybe why. But your search may have just begun. Our city, and its world renowned architecture, have a rich and engrossing history. The people and institutions you've used to do your research are ready to help you continue. Make good use of our public libraries, our museums, our government agencies and our universities. They are a wealth of information preserved for us and our children.

15 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS (historic and contemporary; including architecture and Resource Centers nei8ghborhood life) organized by subject (use address for The following list is based on a comprehensive survey of the individual buildings). city's resource centers. Although other research facilities Charles F. Murphy Architectural Collection contains achieves were found, lack of staff to handle the requests led them to of Chicago architectural firms; indexed by architect (not decline our invitations to be included. street address); primarily commercial and industrial structures. Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Public Library System Burnham Library of Architecture www.chipublib.org/cpl.html 111 S. Michigan Ave. Neighborhood history collections have generally been Chicago, IL 60603 centralized in two locations: the Sulzer Regional Library for 312/443-3666 north side neighborhoods and the Harold Washington Library T 10:30-7:45; W, Th, F 10:30-4:30; (Sa 10-4:45 Sept.-May) Center for west and southside neighborhoods. The Woodson www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/index.html Regional Library on the southside maintains a collection focusing on African-American history. These collections are Library located on main floor to the right of the grand staircase. detailed below. The Library closes for one month during the summer - call to determine dates. Library open to museum members and In addition, some branch libraries may provide space for other with Chicago Library System Infopass. Appointment local historical societies' collections or may have accepted required for access to archival materials and photographs. such collections into their holdings. Other branch libraries may have small collections on local history, and you may Library materials do not circulate; use pencil, not pen in the wish to consult them for such resources. library, personal computers are allowed. Photocopies may be requested for $.35 per page, color photocopies and Chicago Lawn Library photographic prints are also available at the reference desk, 6120 S. Kedzie Ave. consult reference librarian for ordering information. Chicago, IL 6029-4638 312/747-0639 Burnham is one of the foremost architectural libraries in the Contact: John Telli country with extensive archival collections. Information is [email protected] available on Chicago architecture in general through the By appointment only. Avery and Burnham periodical indexes, trade periodicals (focus on Chicago), photos (not indexed), books, microfilmed Collection of the Chicago Lawn Historical Society housed blueprints and drawings primarily of commercial buildings here. Neighborhood history collection includes historic by prominent firms, maps (Sanborn on microfiche), historic photographs, maps, and contemporary newspaper articles. builders' brochures and advertisements. Conrad Sulzer Regional Library Chicago Historical Society 4455 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625-2192 1601 N. Clark St. Contact: Gloria Price Chicago, IL 60614 312/742-4455 312/642-5035 M 2-5 and 7-9; TH 10-1 and 3-5 T-Sa 10-4:30 Patrons are encouraged to call for appointment. www.chicagohs.org/collections/index.html The Chicago History Collection and Newspapers & Magazines Research Center materials do not circulate; use pencil, not pen, Department are on the 2nd floor; the Historical Room is on in Reading Room; tape recorders and personal computers the Mezzanine level. allowed; some material cannot be photocopied and you must take notes instead; staff can photocopy some materials twice a Historical Room Hours: By appointment: M-The 9-9; F-Sa 9- day @ $.25 per page, $.50 for copies of photographic prints – 5. Drop-in: 1st Su of month 9-11:30, 2-5; Most materials in complete photocopying request form; you may photocopy Historical Room are rare and housed in closed stacks; patrons microformed materials on their reader-printer machines so work with special collections librarian. bring change; photography not permitted; tracing allowed with The Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association has worked plastic protectors provided; photo reproductions for a fee. with the Sulzer Library to establish collections on northside The CHS Library has an impressive collection of Chicago Chicago neighborhoods. Relevant collections include: history resources with complete runs of some daily 1. Chicago History Collection (2nd floor Adult Reference newspapers, periodicals and directories. Their holdings Services) include books, pamphlets, periodicals (1870s on), newspapers 2. Newspapers & Magazines Department (2nd floor) (complete runs of many Chicago dailies from the 1840s to 3. Neighborhood History Research Collections (in the date; less complete collections of local, ethnic, special interest Historical Room) newspapers from 19th century forward), newspaper clippings (1930s forward), maps and atlases (scattered Sanborn maps In the Chicago History Collection there are city histories, beginning with 1886), city directories (complete run from biographies of Chicagoans, histories of ethnic groups, books 1880s to date), dissertations, printed artifacts, photographs about institutions, neighborhoods, architecture, politics,

16 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY social conditions, etc.; large pamphlet/clipping file on Chicago Municipal Reference Collection history subjects. 312/747-4526 See the Municipal Reference collection Desk on the 5th floor. In the Newspapers & Magazines Department there are city Street maps from different eras (allows one to trace street directories (1839, 1843-1917, 1923, 1928/9), Cook County name changes), address conversion chart (for 1909 citywide census materials (1840-80, 1900-20) without Soundex, changes), neighborhood histories in form of fact books, Chicago Tribune (1960-present with index from 1972 on), newspaper clipping files, books. Chicago Sun-Times (1976-to present with index 1976-84), Lerner neighborhood papers on North Side (1905-present), Social Sciences and History Division Nadig papers on Northwest side (1940-84), local periodicals. 312/747-4600 Guide at reference desk. See Reference Desk on 6th floor; some materials in microfilm resource room, 5th Floor. Chicago histories, city and business The Neighborhood History Research Collections has resources directories (1844-1929), telephone directories (1892 to date; on neighborhood histories of Chicago's north side (roughly some on microform), Census population schedules (1850- Fullerton north) in the form of photos organized by street 80), history and social science periodicals (see serials list). or area, Sanborn maps (north of Irving Park and east of the Chicago River, select years from 1894-1988), books, Visual and Performing Arts Division community newspapers ca. 1900 on, indexed collection of 312/747-4800 ephemera, clipping files, archives; collection focuses on See Art Information Center on 8th Floor. Ravenswood and Lake View but also includes Northwest Side Books on architectural history, building types, architects' neighborhoods of Edison Park, Jefferson Park, Portage Park, biographies; vertical file w/ pamphlets, clippings, citations and Norwood Park. Guides to collection available. to other sources, organized by building names and neighborhoods. Woodson Regional Library Special Collections Department 9525 S. Halsted St. 312/747-4875 Chicago, IL 60628 See Special Collections Reference Desk on 9th Floor. 312/747-6900 Neighborhood History Research Collection of 43 separate M-The 9-9, F & Sa 9-5, Su 1-5 archival collections on 18 neighborhoods in Chicago Contact: Reference Desk (strengths of collection are on south and west sides); each See 1st floor Reference Desk; Enter and go to left. archive has "Finding Guide" organized by subject. ID required: collection non-circulating. Neighborhoods/areas include: Austin, Belmont-Cragin, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History Calumet Region, Chatham-Grand Crossing, Englewood, and Literature: includes books, periodicals (e.g. The Defender Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Lawndale-Crawford, 1905-present), black business directories (1920s on, e.g. Logan Square/Avondale, Lower West Side, Portage Park, Simms' Blue Book and National Negro Business and Pullman, South Chicago, South Shore, Streeterville, West Professional Directory). Side, Woodlawn, and general city-wide focusing on Downtown; resources vary but may include biographical Harold Washington Library Center data, general history, photographs, and information on local institutions, businesses, organizations. Also small collection 400 S. State St. of late 19th and early 20th century maps. Chicago, IL 60605 M-TH 9-7 Edgebrook Branch Library Business/Science/Technology Division 5331 W. Devon Ave. 312/747-4400 Chicago, IL 60646 The Business Information Center is on the 4th Floor. 312/744-8313 Periodicals will be at periodicals service desk or in microforms M-Th 9-9, F-Sa 9-5 room on same floor. Real estate, engineering, and specialized building trade journals (1860s to present; some indexed via Contact reference librarian for selected materials from the computer or printed sources), maps (Sanborn 1894-1970), Edgebrook Historical Society. directories. General Information Services Division Chicago Dept. of Planning and 312/747-4300, ext. 7 Development, Landmarks Division See the General Information Services Reference Desk on the 3rd floor. Chicago, ethnic, community, and suburban Commission on Chicago Landmarks newspapers including complete retrospective files of Chicago 33 N. LaSalle, Room 1600 Daily News, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune (on Chicago, IL 60602 microfilm). See serials list at any periodicals desk for 312/744-9140 periodical holdings, both contemporary and historic. FAX 312/744-9140 T 9-4 for research by public Government Publications Department www.cityofchicago.org/landmarks 312/747-4500 See Government Publications Reference Desk on the 5th See Front Desk. floor. Maps and statistics; specialized indexes to locate Research notebooks on designated city landmarks and publications available in department. districts; National Register nomination forms for Chicago sites; Chicago Historic Resources material.

17 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS Edgebrook Historical Society Call for appointment; office open M-F 9:30-3:30 www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs 6173 N. McClellan Chicago, IL 60646-4013 Neighborhoods figuring prominently in labor history include 773/774-4651 Des Plaines, Pilsen, Wicker Park/Bucktown, East Side and areas FAX 773/631-2379 like old Chicago stockyards, Michigan Ave. Resources include Jodi McDowell, President books on labor history, photographs organized by event. Call to arrange appointment. Illinois Regional Archives Depository Non-indexed photographs of neighborhood, community newspapers 1953-57, miscellaneous clippings, oral histories (IRAD)-Chicago Branch on some homes. Northeastern Illinois University Ronald Williams Library Edgewater Historical Society 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. Chicago, IL 60615-4699 5358 N. Ashland 773/442-4506 Chicago, IL 60640 M-F 9-4. No ID needed; closed stacks 773/506-4849 www.cyberdriveillinois.com Sa 1-4, by appointment only. www.edgewaterhistory.org Go to lower level reference desk. City document repository including maps (Sanborn 1907- Photographic collection organized by location and/or subject, 72) and atlases (1872-1910), city directories (1846-1861), house tour research files (10 years' worth), contemporary wills (1880-1908). plat map, contemporary clippings file, neighborhood development files organized by location, postcard collection of Edgewater Beach. Irving Park Historical Society 4200 W. Irving Park Road Historic Pullman Foundation Chicago, IL 60641 1000 E. 111th Street 773/777-2750 Chicago, IL 60628-4614 First and third Sundays of each month, 1-4. 773/785-8181 Subdivision maps showing neighborhood's development FAX 773/785-8182 (1894-1954), historic and contemporary photographs M-F 10-4; Research by appointment only (large collection from ca. 1900), research on homes Visitor’s Center featured in house walks (about 60 homes) plus other 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave. significant homes, selected clippings organized by subject, Chicago, IL 60628 some books and photocopied histories on neighborhood; 773/785-8901 newsletter produced since 1984 - newsletter collection at www.pullmanil.org (with links to other Pullman-related sites) Independence branch library. $15 donation request will be made; request must be made in writing (form available). Mt. Greenwood Historical Society Maps, photographs indexed by subject, books, drawings, Mt. Greenwood Public Library clippings file, address change file. 11010 S. Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL 60655-2222 Hyde Park Historical Society 312/747-2805 773/881-8168 See University of Chicago, Regenstein Library FAX 312/747-0148 M-Th 9-9, F-Sa 9-5; Collection open to public. Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Contact: Janet McBride 1 Old State Capitol Plaza [email protected] Springfield, IL 62701 Newspaper clippings organized by subject, photos (historic 217/785-4512 and contemporary), oral histories, Census material (1910, M-F 8:30-5:00 1920, no Soundex). www.state.il.us/hpa (National Register nomination forms can be downloaded from the website.) National Archives-Great Lakes National Register nomination forms, Illinois Historic Structures Survey. Region (Chicago) 7358 S. Pulaski Rd. Illinois Labor History Society Chicago, IL 60629 773/581-7816 x138, Genealogy and microfilm 28 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 1012 M-F 8-4:15 Chicago, IL 60604-2215 Extended hours (microfilm research only) T 8-8:30 312/663-4107 http://www.archives.gov/facilities/il/chicago.html

18 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Federal population census schedules from 1790 through Rogers Park/West Ridge 1920; other federal material, including military and court records. Historical Society 6424 N. Western The Newberry Library Chicago, IL 60645-5422 60 W. Walton St. 773/764-4078 Chicago, IL 60610-3305 773/764-2401 312/943-9090, ext. 3 (Local and Family History Collection) FAX 773/274-7297 or ext. 4 (General Collection and Special Collections) W, F 10-5, TH 7-9 p.m.;all other times by appointment. T-The 10-6; F-Sa 9-5 Mary Jo Doyle, Executive Director www.newberry.org www.rpwrhs.org Free Private library; bring drivers license/picture ID to security Historic photographs organized by zone (4 blocks apiece), kiosk in first-floor lobby, explain that you wish to do research previously researched home histories organized by PIN on house history; they issue research pass and instructions numbers, newspaper clippings, maps, books, audio and on where to go from there. video oral histories. Local and Family History collection includes complete run South Suburban Genealogical of city directories (initial to present); phone books (initial to 1980); complete Chicago Census material (from 1920 and Historical Library back); criss-cross directories; street numbering change guide; www.rootsweb.com/~sghs/ (has links to other organizations guide to old vs. new street names; indexes to Chicago deaths and historical societies.) (1944 back); index of registered voters (1888-92). Limited collection of periodicals in General Collection Southeast Historical Society (19th and 20th century); limited collection of maps in (formerly East Side Historical Society) Special Collections (Sanborn maps, 19th-and 20th century 9801 South Ave. G street maps). Mail: 3658 E. 106th St. Chicago, IL 60617-6611 Norwood Park Historical Society In Chamber of Commerce office, Joseph Mulac, President 773/721-7948 (East Side Chamber of Commerce) Noble-Seymour-Crippen House 773/221-7349 (Stanley residence) 5624 N. Newark Ave. Th 1-4:30; Sept.-June first Sunday of month, 12-3, or by Chicago, IL 60631-3137 appointment 773/631-4633 Museum Frank W. Stanley. Susan Kroll, President and Acting Museum Chairman SHS's archives and the James P. Fitzgibbons Historical Museum Thomas Spenny, Landmark Committee Chairman are located in the Calumet Park Fieldhouse. Sa 12-4 and by appointment www.neiu.edu/~reseller/sehsintro Archives on history of Chicago's far northwest side and Community history of East Side, Hegewisch, South Chicago, overlapping history with local suburbs (Des Plaines, Park South Deering with focus on steel industry: photos (19th century Ridge, Niles, Norwood Park township) include photos (in to present) organized by subjects, books, artifacts, maps, process of indexing by address), books, local newspapers directories (name and occupation), national trade and labor (1973-present), newspaper clippings organized by subject, periodicals (historic), newspapers (Southtown 1960-87), some social directories, people files. clippings organized by subject, videotapes of oral histories. Ravenswood-Lake View Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies Historical Association 618 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60605 See Chicago Public Library, Conrad Sulzer Regional Library Asher Library 312/922-8248 Ridge Historical Society M-Th 9-7; F 9-2:30 in winter; F 9-3 in summer; Su 11-4:30 year round. 10621 S. Seeley Ave. The library is on the 5th Floor. Chicago, IL 60643-2618 www.spertus.edu/library.html 773/881-1675 Su & Th 2-5; otherwise by appointment. Library is open to the public, but only members of Spertus Eugene Delves, President Society can check items out. "Chicago Collection" has www.ridgehistoricalsociety.org books and periodicals (contemporary and historic) on history of Jews in Chicagoland; accompanying index card Beverly Hills and Morgan Park communities: Photos of Chicago file organized by subject includes some neighborhood Historical Society's 1909 postcards of "every home in Morgan and area history citations. Park" organized by street, early newspapers (up to 1916), clippings file organized by street, architects files, people files. Chicago Jewish Archives 312/322-1741 By appointment only.

19 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS Limited number of photographs (indexed by subject), 1988; most on microfilm); complete files of Chicago building clippings (indexed by subject), miscellaneous items, e.g. oral permits (1872-1954; on microfilm; ask for guide created by histories which may contain information on neighborhoods. reference librarians); Census population schedules (1840- 1920; on microfilm). Swedish American Museum Center Special Collections Department 5211 N. Clark St. 312/996-2742 Chicago, IL 60640-2101 M-F 10-4:40 773/728-8111 Go to the third floor, south end. Several significant collections FAX 773/728-8870 are house here: T-F 10-4; Sa-Su 11-4; call to confirm. 1. Jane Addams Memorial Collection: original manuscripts, Contact Curator documents, books and artifacts; includes information on www.samac.org (includes links to other sites pertaining to near west side such as maps, photographs organized by Swedish and immigrant history.) subject, surveys of neighborhood; Non-circulating library with books on Swedish immigrant 2. Lawrence J. Gutter Collection of Chicagoana: rare books, history (no photos, maps, etc.; books only). maps and prints which document growth and development of Chicago; 3. Metropolitan Housing and Planning Council Records University of Chicago including publications, photographs of slum conditions Regenstein Library (1890-1950), housing surveys (1930s and 1940s primarily), Department of Special Collections photos organized by subject. 1100 E. 57th St. Chicago, IL 60637 Additional Websites: 773/702-8705 M-F 8:30-4:45; Sa 9-12:45 except in August/Sept. and holidays. Chicago Metro History Education Center www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl (includes links to other sites www.uic.edu/orgs/cmhec/2_historicalcollections.html petaining to local archives and resources available at the Links to other websites related to Chicago history collections. University of Chicago.) Go to Library Privileges Office in Regenstein's main lobby. Graham Resource Center: For library access, get day pass from the Library Privileges www.itt.edu/libraries/grc/maingrc.html Office (in Regenstein's main lobby); bring 2 pieces of Information on the Graham Resource Center at Illinois identification (one with photo); ask there for directions in Institute of Technology. The Resource Center’s collection is non-circulating and consists of over 4,000 books, periodicals the Department of Special Collections. and other materials. Additionally the Resource Center houses IIT’s Mies Van Der Rohe archive. Call for hours and access Hyde Park Historical Society's collection is housed in the information. Special Collections Research Center. 1. Hyde Park Historical Society Collection includes information The Illinois History Resource Page: on Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods: books, maps, alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~sorensen/hist.html periodicals, local newspapers, real estate ownership index Includes a wide variety of links to Illinois and Chicago history- (1950s), clippings, photos organized by area and subject related websites. (historic and contemporary), oral histories; see finding aid. 2. Hyde Park Neighborhood and Community Organizations Mount Prospect Historical Society: Collection has books, miscellaneous printed material; see www.mphist.org/museums.htm finding aid. Information on local city and suburban historical societies. 3. Archival Photofiles, Buildings and Grounds Series has HydePark, Kenwood, Woodlawn photos organized by subject Northwestern University Library Art Collection: (historic and contemporary); see finding aid. http://www.library.northwestern.edu/art/ The Northwestern University Library website has links to other sites related to architectural history. The library is University of Illinois at Chicago available to the public and contains over 10,000 titles related University Library to architecture and other resources. 801 S. Morgan Chicago, IL 60607 Urban Experience in Chicago: www.uic.edu/depts/lib www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/urbanexp/ Information including photographs and primary documents Documents & Maps Department on Jane Addams, Hull-House, immigrant history and general 312/996-2738 Chicago history. 8-5 M-F; evening and weekend hours vary with academic year-call for information. Go to Documents and Maps Information Desk , 3rd floor, center section. Fire insurance maps (select years from 1886-

20 YOUR HOUSE HAS A HISTORY Research Notes

21 COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS This research guidebook was originally published in 1988. It was subsequently revised, with additional text and illustrations in 1998 (written by Alison Zehr; layout by Steve Fors), and in 2003 (revisions by Margaret Klein, Department of Planning and Development and Matt Overton, Catalyst Consulting Group).

Single copies available, by mail, for $2 (covering postage and handling) from:

City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development Landmarks Division 33 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60602

For more information, visit our web site at: www.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks